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Lethbridge Herald, The (Newspaper) - October 9, 1974, Lethbridge, Alberta
Wadnatday, October 9, 1974 THE LETHBRIDQE HERALD 27 Graham Kelly ANDY CAPP Lions will be tough Over the last 10 years or so, two teams have tended to dominate the Western Conference race for first place honors. Third place usually went to the least inept of the other three contenders, and usually with a very poor, won-lost record. Times, they are a changing, because in 1974 we have a ding-dong race going for all three playoff spots. The consistent, powerful B.C. Lions are in a head-to-head battle with the Edmonton Eskimos, a football team that seems to find it impossible to "get it all together." In one of the truly outstanding rebuilding jobs in recent years, Coach Bud Riley, the leading contender for Coach of the Year honors, has the Win- nipeg Blue Bombers inside on the rail in the run for the third playoff spot over an injury riddled and error-prone bunch of Saskatchewan Roughriders. With the Thanksgiving weekend approaching, more than one position in the Canadian Football League could be settled. British Columbia Lions are playing very good football, indeed. Naturally, Old Spaghetti Legs, James Dickinson Parker, former all-time great Eskimo, and, now the genial, general manager of the Leos, is delighted. "Our boys 'are playing well together. Its a combination of things over all we've certainly strengthened our defence in areas, particularly linebacking and backfield. But our offence is doing better they're keeping the ball away from teams .that really helps." Another thing that really helps is the fact that the Lions are playing nearly errorless ball as of late. Don Moorhead, who I referred to as "dumb" in the past, is playing the best football of his career, beginning, in to vindicate the patient faith in him held by Eagle Keys. With the Lion ground game working so well, Moorhead doesn't have to go to the air as much, a blessing for a man who doesn't throw that well, and doesn't even like to throw the biscuit around the park. But Moorhead has completed 139 passes out of 268 attempts for a percentage of still poorest in the West, but still not really that bad. He has had 12 interceptions, second only to Ron Lancaster obviously theres lots of room for improvement with the Lions passing game. But what a ground game! The B.C. Lions lead in the West in rushing with yards. The leaders are Lou Harris and Monroe Eley, a man in Eagle's doghouse last year. Harris has yards through 12 games, second only to George Reed. Eley has picked up 906 yards so far. Harris leads the league in touchdowns with 10, while Eley has contributed seven majors to the cause. So the Lions have a tremendously potent ground game, even without the services of the injured Johnny Musso. Lions are second in the West in touchdowns scored, and first downs. They are second in points given up by defence, 1st downs yielded, and total offence chalked up against them. They have the second best defensive record against the run, and the third best record against the pass.- All of this adds up to the most successful Lion season since 1964. This marks the first time in 10 seasons that the Lions have won more than six games. Strange enough, though, the B.C. fans are reacting with bland indifference. The overall gate is slightly down from last year. B.C. loves a loser. Ray Jauch is still bedevilled by inconsistency on offence. Although it is true that the absence of George McGowan deprives the Esks of a deep threat with speed, the work of Roy Bell and Calvin Harrell is better than last year. Tom Wilkinson is having a fantastic season throwing the ball. Yet the Eskimos are only third in the West in total points scored, touchdowns, passing yardage and first downs. They rank fourth, only ahead of Calgary, in total offence and rushing. However, the Eskimos are right in there for first place because they lead the league in almost all categories op defence. As was the case in the 1960's, the Edmonton entry still relies primarily on defence to get the job done. If B.C. and Edmonton are second, third and even fourth in offensive categories, who pray tell, is leading the league? Saskatchewan, that's who. The Roughriders are No. 1 in touchdowns scored, first downs, and total offence. They are se- cond in total points, rushing and passing. But defence tells the real story about Saskatchewan. The Rider defence has been scored on more than any other team in the conference. They are fourth in the number of first downs given up. But they are second best against the rush, and second best in terms of yielding to total offence. How can they be se- cond best there, and worst in giving up points? The answer is simply that the Riders have more turnovers than any other club in Canada. The defence is backed up against the wall constantly because of offensive mistakes. Winnipeg has five games remaining, Saskatchewan three. Saskatchewan must win all remaining games, two against the Lions and one against Montreal. I think they can do that because B.C. has a terrible time beating the Roughriders. Winnipeg plays in Ottawa on Saturday, Hamilton Monday, then Edmon- ton, and twice against Calgary. 'ANOONASECj S FLO -YOUR TOP BUTTON'S 10-9. YOU'RE GETTIN' A BIT PAST IT WHEN YOU START Race results Team Canada ends on losing note, drop 3-1 verdict to Czechoslovakia PRAGUE (CP) Team Canada '74 lost 3-1 to Czech- oslovakia's national team Tuesday in the final game of its European tour.' Players treated the loss casually as they hurried to clean up last-minute details before flying home today. The 10-hour charter flight was ex- pected to leave at noon Prague time, arriving in Toronto about 4 p.m. EOT. Coach Billy Harris said he was not disappointed with Tuesday's loss "because both teams played good hockey." At a news conference, he gave the Czechs full value for the win. He said he had coached Swe- den against Czechoslovakia six times during his stint as Swedish national coach and "I have always found it harder to beat the Czechs than to beat the Russians." The game appeared to mean little to the Canadians, still weary mentally after losing their eight-game series to the Soviet Union. The Czechs, rated second in Europe behind the Soviet Union, got goals from Juri Bubla and Ivan Hlinka within the first 10 minutes. Julius Haas scored early in the third. Bobby Hull got credit for Canada's only goal, late in the second period, although it ap- peared Tom Webster knocked the puck into the net after un-, seasoned Czech goalie Jiri Crha hobbled Hull's hard shot. Crha. replaced starter Jiri Holecek in the first period' after the veteran international star was nicked as he stopped a shot by Hull, Holecek need- ed several stitches. Canada's goaltenders were Don McLeod. who gave up two goals in his 25-minute stint, and Gilles Gratton, who was beaten by Haas. Harris agreed the goalies had no chance on the shots that beat them. Bubla and Debt-ridden World League continues to struggle on Haas scored from passes directly in front of the net, while Hlinka drilled a low screened shot past McLeod. Referee Rudolf Bata assess- ed only four minor penalties to each team. A crowd of about gave Gordie Howe the loudest applause during the pre-game presentation but booed the Canadians occasionally during the game for rough play. At the end of the game centre Andre Lacroix was in the penalty box with a needless spearing penalty, but otherwise both clubs played cleanly. The exhibition game was the third for the Canadians in Europe. They whippped Finland 8-3 and edged Sweden 4-3. CALGARY (CP) Race results from Stampede Park Tuesday: claiming. 3 year old maidens, 6 furlongs. Kentucky Astro (Norrlx) 4.80 3.00 2.70, Alkie (Coombs) 4.00 3.10. Her Courages (Shields) 3.70. Time: Let's Rehearse. Shady Do. Irene Goodnight, Tasminar, Sundre Sam also ran. Track Scratch: Prince's-Ransom. SECOND claiming, 3 year olds, 6 furlongs Mike Mullen (Ollive) 5 90 3 70 2.80, Trusted Position (Giesbrecht) 37.40 12.20, Sheba's Shade (Morris) 3.70. Time: Sable's Blus, Sen Bar, Kelly H, Brown Baron. Fay's Hurrah, Starry Prince "also ran DAILY DOUBLE: Track Scratch- White Winter. THIRD claiming, 3 year olds, 6 furlongs. Miss Easter Day (Rycroft) 6.80 24.70 9.10, Washougal (Hedge) 41.80 1320, Shining Sugar (Ollive) 3.10 Time: 1-14 Winter Field, Iron Admiral, Pixie Belle, Rejected Romance. Janna Jester. Porque Si. Khamite also ran. OUINELLA: FOURTH allowance. 2 year olds, 6 furlongs. Why Reason (Gold) 6.70 3.40 2 70. Conumdrum (Morns) 4.30 3.30. Thru The Mirror (Wiseman) 3.00. Time- Federal Sweep. Tillano. Port Alibi, High Cutter, Charlotte O'Shore, Tony's Gone also ran. FIFTH S5.000, claiming, 3 year olds, 6 furlongs Fox Trot Pappa (Ollive) 7.50 3.20 2 80, Tops In Design (Wiseman) 3 00 2.80, Kuckee Lad (Coombs) 3.30. Time: Judge Tardy. White Jet. Mr. Murphy also ran. EXACTOR: SIXTH claiming, 3 year olds. 6 furlongs. Johnny's Honey (Wiseman) 11 40 6.40 3.90. Rural Summer (Gold) 16.90 4 30, Maylinga (Coombs) 2 90 Time: Carmengay, Belmont Road. Water Wagon also ran. SEVENTH allowance. 3 year olds, 1 mile New Governor (Norris) 7 90 5 40 3.70, Cypress Cove (Wiseman) 4.20 3.10. Noble Bomber (Shields) 330 Time. 1.38 Windsor's Jimmy, So Long Fellas, Silk Route also ran. EIGHTH claiming, 3 year olds, 1 miles Return To Dance (Hedge) 4.00 3.20 300. Chained Flag (Rycroft) 1500 5.50, Parkland Prince (Wiseman) 7.70 Time: 1.47 III, Bala Gambo, Wee Tosca. Red Mahogany, Tally Boy, West Wind Gal. Bhai Lodge also ran. OUINELLA: Women's volleyball Women interested in play- ing volleyball are invited to a meeting Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Recreation Office at Picture Butte. The purpose of the meeting is to form a volleyball league in the County of Lethbridge. The league will be under the guidance of the Oldman River Northern District Recreation Board. All women interested in par- ticipating in a league are urg- ed to attend this meeting. ASSOCIATED PRESS The debt-ridden World Foot- ball League, ready to fold its two weakest franchises unless new owners step in to pay the bills, returns to action tonight with' an abbreviated schedule. With most of the 12-team WFL set for the 15th round of games in the 20-game schedule, Jacksonville Sharks and Detroit Wheels have been sidelined in an attempt to resolve their money troubles. The WFL, now the owner of the two idle clubs, decided that Florida Blazers, who were to play Jacksonville, and Chicago Fire, which was to face Detroit, will fill the gap by meeting for the third time since July. I-n other WFL games tonight, Memphis Southmen visit Charlotte Hornets, Portland Storms at Bir- mingham Americans and the Hawaiians at Philadelphia Bell. On Thursday, Shreveport Steamer visits Southern California Sun. League that it would cost million to foot both team's bills until the season on the verge of dropping the Sharks and Wheels and distributing their players to the other teams. Jacksonville is last in the WFL Eastern Division with four victories and 10 losses. Detroit, 1-13, is last in the league's Central Division. But a circuit court judge in Orlando, Fla. has temporarily enjoined the league from tak- ing over. Chicago, 7-7, losers of five straight games, must stop Blazer Tommy Reamon, who has 962 yards best in the WFL. The league's top runner, J.J. Jennings of Memphis, will try to add to his total when the Southmen, 12-2, play the Hornets, 9-5. It's the first game in Charlotte for the old New York Stars. Trailing Central Division- leading Memphis by one game, Birmingham, 11-3, has dropped three of its last four one of them an upset by Portland, 4-9-1, which hopes for a repeat this time around. Against the Hawaiians, 5-9, Philadelphia, 6-8, will use quarterback King Corcoran, who is leading the WFL with yards passing. The Hawaiians have a recent arrival, ex-National Football League quarterback Randy Johnson. Southern California, 10-4, leaders of the WFL Western Division, looks to passer Tony Adams to bomb Shreveport, 4- 9-1. olclc Dempsey's eatery closes MUFFLER CENTRES Ten Minute Service Free Installations Guaranteed As Long As You Own The Car Dual Exhaust Specialists Monroe Shocks Walker Exhausts WE KEEP YOUR SPACE QUIET NEW YORK (AP) Infla- tion has dealt Jack Dempsey one of the heaviest blows he has suffered since Gene Tunney took the world heavyweight championship away from him on Sept. 23, 1926. The new knockout came from Dempsey's landlord, in a dispute over the rent the Manassa Mauler paid for his Broadway restaurant. The landlord won. And at about 8 p.m. Sunday, sur- rounded by 150 friends and weUwishers, Dempsey closed the doors for good on the restaurant he had operated since 1947. The 79-year-old Dempsey took his accustomed place at a table in the rear of the restaurant. At his side was his wife, Diana. He obliged autograph seekers by signing his name to menus, postcards, and and arid bills. For more than a year, Dempsey had been fighting to keep his lease which called for rent. LETHBRIDGE 321 13th ST. N. 329-4666 ALL CANADIAN Manager JIMTOTH SNOW REGULAR AUTOMOTIVE CENTRE 4 PLY NYLON CORD TIRES THROUGH JHK WKKtHD Custom Snow Short sport of all sorts HARNESS MEET EDMONTON (CP) Provincial and federal authorities have approved a 43 day winter harness racing meet at Stampede Park in Calgary. The meet will open Nov. 1 and close Jan. 6 with 10 races daily on Fridays, Saturdays. Sundays and Mondays. There will be additional racing Dec. 26. Dec. 30. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. BIG SEASON WASHINGTON (AP) AI Geiberger, who Sunday cap- tured his first golf tour victory since 1966, increased his ear- nings for the season to the most be has ever won in a single season. Geiberger won the first prize in the Sahara invitational. Leader Johnny Miller, who tied for sixth in the Sahara, increased his winnings to Jack Nicklaus remains second with and Lee Trevino is third with Hubert Green is fourth with foKowed by Dave Stockton, Hale Irwzn, J. C. Snead. Jerry Heard, Brian Aliin. and Tom Watson, PHYSICIAN DIES REGIMA 24, 24F. For Meit fStortri Ann-men Ivrarjr Con 77, 27T, 60. Smell to carry tn or jwrw. Icvep